The Bellwether by Shed Textile Co. in Southold offers woven home decor

At The Bellwether by Shed Textile Co., a new decor store in Southold, shoppers will often catch store owner Stephanie Pinerio at her loom weaving items like scarves, cowls and throws.

The shop, which opened in June, doubles as Pinerio's working textile studio.

At age 42, she left her career in advertising and enrolled in a textile/surface design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.

"That is where I fell in love with weaving and continued to pursue it as a career by launching my own product line, Shed Textile Co., in 2017," she says.

Some of the first commercial designs she produced were handwoven pillows.

"My products cater to home decor enthusiasts and interior design clients," she says.

Because Pinerio works with a lot of wool, the name of the shop was inspired by the textile fiber.

 The name comes from the Middle English word "which referred to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of the bellwether," she says. "A shepherd could then note the movements of the animals by hearing the bell, even when the flock was not in sight."

Pinerio's favorite home decor and accessories to make are experimental pieces.

"I have a few woven in the shop which are one-of-a-kind pieces that incorporate unconventional fibers like roving (un-spun wool) and raw wool," she says.

This fall/winter season, customers can expect to find colorful scarves and cowls and muted and earthy throws.

"They are all produced with 100% Merino wool, so they are very soft and cozy — and made entirely in Southold," Pinerio says.

The most expensive item at The Bellwether is a handwoven Merino wool throw, which is priced at $480. "The wool is extra bulky and ships from Peru, so it costs a lot to make one," she explains.

The store sells small gifts including candles, coasters, Laurel & Ash Farm maple syrup and printed cotton throws ($87 each).

The Bellwether by Shed Textile Co., 53800 Main Rd., Southold; shedtextile.com; 917-517-5653